CSeries in contest for Bangkok Airways' narrowbody needs

Bangkok Airways is evaluating the Airbus A319neo, Boeing 737 Max 7 and the Bombardier CS300 for its fleet renewal and expansion needs.

In an interview with FlightGlobal, network and fleet management advisor Peter Wiesner says the airline is looking at about 20 aircraft, to be available for delivery from the second half of 2019.

These aircraft, which will be taken in a mix of acquisitions and leases, will replace its fleet of 15 A319s.

Wiesner says that while the CSeries is lighter than the A319neo and the 737 Max 7, bringing about fuel savings, it will bring with it the complexity of adding a new aircraft type to the boutique carrier's fleet.

"Ideally we should make a decision between six and nine months," says Wiesner. "But the leases of our existing aircraft are also ongoing so there's no real rush."